NBA Christmas Day betting odds and picks

Christmas is going to look a little different this year as the pandemic rages on around the world. Family dinners will be hosted on Zoom, caroling will be replaced by Spotify playlists, and stockings will be stuffed with hand sanitizer and Clorox Wipes.

Fortunately there is one tradition that will remain virtually unchanged as the NBA hosts its annual Christmas Day marathon. This year’s showcase features five must-see games and includes some of Association’s biggest attractions. The fun begins at noon with the Heat hosting the Pelicans, and wraps up nearly 12 hours (and too many servings of stuffing) later with the Clippers clashing with the Nuggets.

We’ve reviewed the Association’s jam-packed schedule and have all the odds and picks you need to navigate Christmas Day.

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Miami Heat (12 p.m., ESPN)

Although few pundits expected Miami to reach the 2020 NBA Finals, the Heat proved they belonged by stealing a pair of games from the heavily favored Lakers. Their triumphs were all the more surprising since Erik Spoelstra’s squad had to overcome a multitude of injuries to key personnel.

The Eastern Conference champs are healthy once again, and have added a pair of promising new pieces in hyper athletic forward Mo Harkless and hard-nosed combo guard Avery Bradley. Expect Miami to take care of business at home, where the Heat were 29-7 in 2019-20.

Pick: Heat -5.5

Golden State Warriors vs. Milwaukee Bucks (2:30 p.m., ABC)

It’s scary to consider, but the NBA’s best regular season team over the past two years may have gotten even better. By swapping Eric Bledsoe for Jrue Holiday, the Bucks landed a former All-Star and two-time All-Defensive Team member who should give Giannis Antetokounmpo even more room to operate. Milwaukee also improved its bench by acquiring Bryn Forbes and Bobby Portis, both of whom bring the toughness and grit that coach Mike Budenholzer prizes.

For the Warriors, the top story is attrition rather than addition. Golden State was dealt a devastating blow on Nov. 19 when Klay Thompson tore his right Achilles tendon. The injury will keep him out of the lineup for the second consecutive season and all but ends the franchise’s quest for a fourth championship since 2015.

New additions like Kelly Oubre Jr. and James Wiseman will certainly help, but they won’t be enough to win a title or to vault the Warriors past the Bucks on Christmas Day. All things considered, this 8-point spread is a generous gift from oddsmakers after the Warriors lost by 26 on opening night.

Pick: Bucks -8

Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics (5 p.m., ABC)

The third game of the day features a possible Eastern Conference Finals preview as the star-studded Nets visit the surging Celtics. Although both teams made the playoffs in 2020, they’ll look considerably different on Christmas Day.

Boston will be without Gordon Hayward, who signed a ludicrous four-year, $128 million deal with the Hornets, while the Nets will roll out a lineup featuring Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant after injuries prevented the All-Star duo from sharing the court last season.

In the NBA, the team with the best player generally wins, and in this case the Nets have the two best players. That was especially evident on opening night as Kyrie and KD combined for 48 points in the Nets' 125-99 thrashing of the Warriors. Take Brooklyn and enjoy the fireworks.

Pick: Nets -2.5

Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers (8 p.m. ABC)

The Mavs are shaping up to be one of the most entertaining teams of 2021, but they’re still just a second-rate outfit without Kristaps Porzingis, who was only recently cleared for non-contact drills after undergoing knee surgery in October.

The Lakers, on the other hand, are a full-on juggernaut, with a pair of legitimate MVP candidates in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and an improved supporting cast featuring Dennis Schroder, Montrezl Harrell, and Marc Gasol. L.A. got spanked on opening night by a highly motivated Clippers squad, but the defending champs won't start the season 0-2. Look for them to shake off the rust and put this game out of reach by the third quarter. 

Pick: Lakers -6.5

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets (10:30 p.m., ESPN)

The Clippers gave the Lakers everything they could handle on opening night in a thoroughly impressive 116-109 win. Kawhi Leonard pumped in 26 points in 34 minutes and Paul George redeemed himself (for one game at least) by scoring 33 points on 13-for-18 shooting.

We won't blame you if you don't buy into all the Kumbaya talk coming out of the Clippers' locker room after last year's dysfunction, but L.A. is a better and more balanced team than a year ago. Serge Ibaka, in particular, is a huge upgrade at center, as evidenced by his highly-efficient 15-point, six-rebound performance on Tuesday. He allows L.A. to play at a far faster pace without sacrificing rim protection.

The Nuggets will keep things close during the first half on Christmas, but the Clippers will pull away late to keep their perfect record intact.

Pick: Clippers -2